The Lovereading4Kids comment

A thought provoking, fascinating and completely captivating book about the importance of family, self awareness and self belief. Kim and Fizzy, both 15 years old, (one fiercely independent and sharply witty and the other earnest, kind and thoughtful) are totally believable in their differing reactions to life changing news. The girls feel satisfyingly real and the highlighting of their flaws as well as their abilities make them somehow even more charismatic. Learning that the author was inspired by two Russian girls who discovered at the age of 12 that they had been raised by the wrong family and in a different faith, really helps to cement the development of the narrative. The ending to this special and stimulating novel leaves you wanting more, and feels as though a door has been left open to the future, encouraging questions and thoughts about the meaning of family, relationships and love. ~ Liz Robinson

Synopsis

Thinner Than Water by Sue Hampton

The one mistake that changed two families forever. Kim Braddock and Fizzy Duvall have never met, yet their lives are inextricably linked. When the girls discover that they have been switched at birth, the revelation sends a shock-wave through both families. When their identities are overturned, Kim and Fizzy form a bond that changes them both as two families struggle with the truth. But as conflict deepens, is their connection strong enough to survive?

Fans of Sue Hampton’s work include Michael Morpurgo and Beverley Knight. Speaking about Thinner than Water recently, Beverley Knight said: “It is an enjoyable and fascinating read. The storyline at the beginning involving the accident at birth is made more intriguing because of the parents being a mixed-race relationship and from different class systems.”

Reviews

Instantly likeable and believable characters caught up in an impossible situation. With Thinner Than Water, Sue Hampton brings warmth and humour to a potentially devastating situation. A lovely read. Dawn Finch.

Thinner Than Water is an enjoyable and fascinating read. The story line at the beginning involving the accident at birth is made more intriguing because of the parents being a mixed race relationship and from different class systems. The fact that one set of parents had such strong religious feelings really resonated with my own upbringing. This is a fantastic template for an onscreen drama. Beverley Knight

Contemporary, insightful, humorous and touching, Sue Hampton has written an authentic picture of what it's like to be mixed-race London teenagers on opposite sides of the social tracks. Christine O'Brien, Golden Egg Academy.

I absolutely loved this book. Frankly I think it is one of the author's best . Her characterisation is first class and I have never identified with such a diverse set of characters before. This is an exciting and completely original story for young people, told with the empathy, humour and realism that I have come to expect from Sue Hampton. Jo Bowers, librarian.

About the Author

Sue Hampton is a full-time author.

For most of her life she was teacher, and was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2004. In 2005 she took a sabbatical to pursue her dream of being a writer. Her debut work, Spirit and Fire, was published in 2007. She had previously also ran her own vegetarian food business.

At twenty-four, Sue was diagnosed with alopecia. Having spent most of her subsequent life wearing a wig in public, the success of her writing gave her the confidence to admit her condition. She is now an ambassador for Alopecia UK.

Sue has visited over 500 schools up and down the country to inspire children and teenagers to read and write, and also addresses adult audiences including trainee teachers at university. With her husband Leslie Tate, poet and novelist, she visits writers’ and reading groups. “Being a full-time author is thrilling because I love words and I’m happy when I’m immersed in characters and situations I’ve created which feel absolutely real.’